Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1887-02-26
BURDETTE LEFT HIM.
The Adventure of Gentleman WhC
Would Not sleep with His Brother

The Adventure of a Gentleman Who
would Not sleep with His Brother.
[Burdette in Brooklyn Eagle.l
One night 1 reached Erie just as the
clocks in the lord mayors castle struck 21.
1t was bitter, biting, stinging cold, and
there was no ambulance at the station, but
there was good hotel there. I went in and
registered, and a man of commanding pres
ence, taiIor-built clothes and brown beard
of most refined culture Immediately follow
ed me- | stood little in awe of this maies-
tic being-about little as I usually
Standard when in deep, bass, com :
manding voice he ordered room, 1 had a
great mind-something that always carry
with me when I trayel-to go out and get him
one.
The gentleman1y and urbane night clerk,
who also seemed to be deeply impressed
as is the habit of the night elerk-with
the gentleman's responsible to-any amount
toot on sawmbel, said he was sorry, but
he had but one vacant room and it contained
but one bed.
tStin," he said, as became a man who
was bound to stand for his house if it
hadn't bed in it, ''it was very wide
bed, very wide and quite long. Two
gentlemen could sleep in it quite COM
Portable, and f." But the command
ing being at my side said that was quite
altogether out of the question entirely,
Quite He was sorry for the-here he
looked at me, hesitated, but finally said
gentleman, but He couldn't share His
room with him. He was sorry for the
gentleman, and hoped he might find
comfortable lodgings, but He couldn't per-
nit him to occupy even portion of His
bed.
Then the clerk begged pardon, and was
sorry and all that, but this other gentleman
had registered first, and it was for him to say
what disposition should be made of this lone
ly room and solitary bed. I hastened to as
sure the majestic being that it was all right;
he was welcome to two thirds of the room,
all the loeking-glass and one-half of the
bed.
s'No," he said very abruptly, II will sit
here by the stove and sleep in a chair.
thank you, sir, but I would not sleep with
my own brother. prefer room to my
self"
meekly told him that didn't know what
kind of man his brother was, but no
doubt he did, and, therefore, I must con-
clude that he wasn't fit man to sleep with.
But his brother was out of the question,
and if he wanted part of my ceuch he
might have il and welcome, and 7 would
agree not to think of his brother. ''No,
SIR" said he, 'sI will sleep in no mans bed !"
1 said I wouldn't either, if I wasn't sleepy
| but when was sleepy, l didn't care; I'd
sleep with the King of England or the
President aud wouldn't care cent who knew
| it.
Well, I went to bed. I curled up under
the warm, soft blankets and heard the
wind shrek and wall and whistle and
| yell-how like all creation the wind can
| howl in Erie-and the night grew cold
er and colder every minute 1 fell asleep
and dreamed that heaven was just forty
| eight miles west of Dunkirk. About 2:30
or o'clock there came laundering rap at
the door, and with vague, half-waking
impression in my dream that somebody
from the other place was trying to get in,
said
t'What is it?'
cit is IT, answered a splendid voice
| which 1 recognized at once. 'fI am the
gentleman who came on the train with
you"
eyes," L said; 'tand what is the mat
terl''
The splendid voice was trife humble as i
replied"
'T have changed my mind about sleeping
with another man."
$50 have II" I howled, SO joyously tina